By David Blyweiss, M.D.
The other day, my office got a frantic call from Jane. The night before she had suffered a frightening bout of breathlessness. You see, Jane had been a pack-a-day smoker for much of her life. And, although she quit more than 10 years ago, she was left with a devastating case of COPD.
Long-time tobacco smokers like Jane have the highest risk of developing COPD, also called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It’s a major cause of disability, affecting at least 12 million people, and the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.
